The Other Einstein

My friend Amanda invited me to her book club a few months ago. The book for October was The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict. I didn’t go because I didn’t read the book. Now (literally a month after the meeting), I’ve finished it and will do a small book review here. Side note – apparently it is common practice to not finish (and sometimes not even read) the book for a book club meeting. I’m no saint. I have gone to book clubs purely for the social aspects of it…but my preference is to read the book and to have a really good discussion about what I liked and didn’t like and hear others’ thoughts on the book. I have set a new year’s resolution before to read more books…and now that I’m canceling my Netflix subscription I will have a LOT more time on my hands! But I digress.

I found the book to be very readable. The author’s style (at least in this book) is light and easy even when tackling topics such as gravity and relativism and all sorts of physics stuff that is challenging. A little bit about the author – she’s a lawyer (or I guess you would say a former lawyer) who’s focus is on women in history, writing fictional accounts of their experiences. My twin is a lawyer and an incredible writer…my hope is she reads about this Marie Benedict person and will FINALLYchoose to write a novel (or 2 or 3 or 4). Sarah, I’m talking to you and I’m not even being subtle about it!

Anyway, you can do your own googling or read my brief fact finding. Albert Einstein was married to Mileva Maric for about 16 years. I say about because they separated in 1913 but didn’t officially get the divorce until 1919. She was ridiculously smart and quite pioneering, studying at the grad school level in a field dominated by men. She (quite scandalously at the time) had a child with Einstein out of wedlock. Their relationship evolved or devolved…they were in love until they weren’t. I don’t think anyone or anything prepares you for that relationship reality. I know about 10 years into my marriage I realized I was more of a roommate/maid than a wife, which is what happened to Mileva. That’s not a good feeling. I suspect many relationships change like these. I was quite sympathetic to Mileva. Albert Einstein was not painted in a kind light in this book. I don’t think the author was trying to smear Albert’s name, just paint a different side of him.

Their relationship ebbs and flows in the backdrop of the years leading up to World War 1. There are acts of discrimination and racism – against Jews, against women, against Eastern Europeans that made me sad.

My favorite lines from the book are toward the end in Chapter 37. This is Marie Curie speaking to Mileva. Oh how I wish this conversation had taken place in real life! I do appreciate the author writing these words as I’m sure they’re meant to inspire others to take action.

You and I are not so different except in the choices we’ve made. And remind yourself that a new choice is always possible.

Please consider reading Author’s note, Reading Group Guide and A Conversation with the Author, which follow the conclusion of the book. They give you more insight into the author and to the subject (Mileva). I wonder if it benefits you as a reader to re-read the book, having now read the questions in the guide (so you have them percolating in your mind)?

Here are my thoughts on the first question from the reading group guide.

1. Discuss the various ways that gender affects the characters in the novel. Do you think gender would influence Mileva’s life in the same way if she lived today?

Gender is less relevant today than it was then. It used to be women needed to be chaperoned at all times. Definitely is not the case today. There really were few options for women in the 1900’s, whereas today there are more choices than ever before. If you want to be a housewife and mother – great. If you want to have a career – great. If you want to be a scientist, doctor, CFO, CEO – great! We are blessed to live in an era where there are so many choices, even if it can be overwhelming.

Having a child out of wedlock is certainly not as shameful and shocking now as it was then. While it would be hard to be a single mother, I suspect Mileva would have pursued that route (she did for 3 years until Albert married her). I wonder if she and Albert would have married? After all, they talked about living a bohemian lifestyle. Perhaps if they hadn’t married, he would have viewed her as more of an equal?

DM if you want to discuss any of the other questions or have a book you’d recommend. I have several on my bookcase that are calling to me now.